Thistle bird feeder

ABSTRACT

A thistle bird feeder comprising a container and a plurality of feeder bags. A cable extends through the container and is provided with a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end for retaining the components of the bird feeder between them and suspending the bird feeder in a hanging position when hung from a tree or otherwise. The container comprises and is formed by a cover, a dome, and a collar. The cover is provided with a star shaped opening that frictionally engages with the hanging cable for enabling the separation of the cover from the dome to fill the bird feeder when the bird feeder is in the hanging position. The collar comprises a plurality of divider walls for creating a plurality of sections or compartments to direct or funnel the bird feed into individually separated feeder bags corresponding to each section or compartment when filling the bird feeder. Adjacent each section or compartment is a telescoping column and a plurality of hooks for releaseably attaching or fastening to an elastic band secured to the feeder bag.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/878,241, entitled “Thistle Bird Feeder and Wild Bird Feeder”, filed on Jan. 3, 2007, and is fully incorporated herein by reference.

II. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bird feeders and, more particularly, to a thistle bird feeder designed and developed to make the feeding of smaller birds easier, cleaner, and more useful to the caretaker.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Thistle bird feeders have been around for a long time and are known in the art. These types of feeders are typically used with smaller seeds such as, for example, thistle seeds or similar sized type seeds. The seeds are generally poured into and housed in a container where they are made available to birds through small holes or similarly sized openings in the container or some form of provided polyester sock or wire mesh. The thistle bird feeder is then hung for ease of access by the birds. Small birds such as finches can then either perch adjacent to the container or stand on the sock or wire mesh and eat the small seeds through the openings.

One of the problems with these type of feeders is that when the bird feeder becomes empty, the bird feeder must be retrieved from where it is hanging, necessary components or parts of the bird feeder opened or removed to obtain access to the container, replenishing the seeds into the container or sock or wire mesh, and/or having to replace the entire container, sock, or wire mesh altogether, and then re-hanging the bird feeder. This process of re-filling the bird feeder is cumbersome and not convenient. Applicant has, however, designed a thistle bird feeder that solves these problems and provides other useful benefits. Thus, there is a need and there has never been disclosed Applicant's unique thistle bird feeder.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a thistle bird feeder comprising a container and a plurality of feeder bags. A cable extends through the container and is provided with a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end for retaining the components of the bird feeder between them and suspending the bird feeder in a hanging position when hung from a tree or otherwise. The container comprises and is formed by a cover, a dome, and a collar. The cover is provided with a star shaped opening that frictionally engages with the hanging cable for enabling the separation of the cover from the dome to fill the bird feeder when the bird feeder is in the hanging position. The collar comprises a plurality of divider walls for creating a plurality of sections or compartments to direct or funnel the bird feed into individually separated feeder bags corresponding to each section or compartment when filling the bird feeder. Adjacent each section or compartment is a telescoping column and a plurality of hooks for releaseably attaching or fastening to an elastic band secured to the feeder bag.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Description of the Preferred Embodiment will be better understood with reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a side view of Applicant's thistle bird feeder in its assembled form and further illustrating the bird feeder completely filled with seed and dispensing the seed in four feeder bags accessible by perching birds.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the thistle bird feeder and, in particular, illustrating the cover as detached from the dome to create an opening for filling the thistle bird feeder.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the thistle bird feeder and, in particular, illustrating the various components used for forming the assembled device.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the locking means for releaseably attaching or fastening the cover to the dome.

FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the fastening means for releaseably attaching or fastening the dome to the collar.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder in its assembled form and further illustrating the bird feeder completely filled with seed and dispensing the seed in two feeder bags accessible by perching birds.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder and, in particular, illustrating the cover as detached from the dome to create an opening for filling the thistle bird feeder.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder and, in particular, illustrating the various components used for forming the assembled device.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the locking means for releaseably attaching or fastening the cover to the dome in this alternate embodiment.

FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the fastening means for releaseably attaching or fastening the dome to the collar in this alternate embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4, and in particular illustrating the attachment of the feeder bag to the device and the funneling of the bird seed into the feeder bag.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 7A-7A of FIG. 7, illustrating the fastening means for releaseably attaching or fastening the dome to the collar.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the thistle bird feeder, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the thistle bird feeder, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder and, in particular, illustrating the means for attaching the feeder bag to the device.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the means for attaching the feeder bag to the device.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11, and in particular illustrating the securing means for releaseably attaching or fastening an elastic band to the feeder bag.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning to FIG. 1, Applicant's thistle bird feeder 20 is illustrated. The thistle bird feeder 20 comprises a container 22, feeder bags 24, and a hanging cable 26. In the preferred embodiment, the container 22 comprises a cover 28, a dome 30, and a collar 32.

As illustrated, the bird feeder 20 is filled with bird seed 34 which includes but is not limited to various thistle seeds or any other type of similar sized bird seed. This seed is made available to birds 36 standing or perched directly on the feeder bags 24.

The components of the bird feeder 20 and the assembly of these components are more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the preferred embodiment, the cover 28 is releaseably attached or fastened to the dome 30 using a locking means 38, as illustrated in FIG. 3A. The locking means 38 comprises a latch 40 integrally molded with the exterior edge 42 of the cover 28. The latch 40 comprises a recessed wall 44 and a ledge 46 extending outwardly and perpendicular from the recessed wall 44. In the preferred embodiment, the ledge 46 is located on the recessed wall 44 a distance 48 below the exterior edge 42. In this manner, the ledge 46 provides a top surface 50 that is adjacent and parallel to a bottom surface 52 provided by the exterior edge 42. In the preferred embodiment, the dome 30 comprises an open top 54 having a rim 56. Situated within the rim 56 is a latch hole 58 providing access to a chamber 60 having opposed sidewalls 62 and 64.

To use the locking means 38, the ledge 46 of the latch 40 is inserted through the latch hole 58 and into the chamber 60. The ledge 46 is then moved in the direction of arrow A toward sidewall 62. The sidewall 62 acts as a stopping means for preventing the ledge 46 from moving any further within the chamber 60. As the ledge 46 is moved in the direction of arrow A, the ledge 46 encounters a detent member 66 which requires additional pressure to force the ledge 46 past the detent member 66 to reach the sidewall 62 and a locked position. When the ledge 46 reaches the sidewall 62, the sidewall 62 and the detent member 66 coact to prevent the ledge 46 from being easily or accidentally bumped or pushed in either direction from this locked position. Also, while the ledge 46 is in the chamber 60 and moving toward the locked position, the bottom surface 52 of the exterior edge 42, the recessed wall 44 of the latch 40, and the top surface 50 of the ledge 46 collectively become engagingly mated with the rim 56 for completing the locking means 38 and achieving a secure, waterproof seal and fit between the cover 28 and the dome 30. This locking means 38 is also designed to prevent the undesired rotation of the cover 28 in relation to the dome 30. When the locking means 38 is desired to be released, the reverse procedure is followed. The sidewall 64 then acts as the stopping mechanism to stop the movement of the ledge 46 within the chamber 60 for alignment in tandem with the latch hole 58 for removal of the ledge 46 back through the latch hole 58 and releasing the cover 28 from the dome 30.

In the preferred embodiment, this locking means 38 is used in four equally spaced locations around the perimeter of the cover 28 and the dome 30 for achieving the most efficient and secure attachment of the cover 28 to the dome 30. Alternatively, it is contemplated that any number of locking means 38 may be used by one skilled in the art.

To assist in the handling and movement of the cover 28, a raised cap 68 is used (FIG. 3). The raised cap 68 comprises a plurality of finger walls 70. The finger walls 70 preferably extend upwardly in a substantially vertical or perpendicular relationship to the cover 28. In this manner, a clearing 72 is created between the finger walls 70 and the cover 28 enabling one to engage the finger walls 70 to manipulate the raised cap 68 for moving or laterally turning the cover 28. In the preferred embodiment, the engagement of the raised cap 68 and finger walls 70 is accomplished by a person using different fingers to apply inward pressure on one or more of the finger walls 70. This pressure enables the person to grasp the raised cap 68 and move or laterally turn the cover 28. Alternatively, the engagement and manipulation of the raised cap 68 may be accomplished by any other means known to one skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment, the raised cap 68 is also provided with a star shaped opening 74 having a center 76 and a plurality of slits 78 forming a plurality of adjacent teeth. Penetrating through the center 76 of the star shaped opening 74 is the hanging cable 26 (see also FIG. 2). The hanging cable 26 then terminates in a hanging loop 80 formed or created by the folding of the hanging cable 26 and which is secured by a locking crimp 82. The hanging loop 80 is then used to freely hang the bird feeder 20 from any desired location. The star shaped opening 74, the center 76, and the plurality of slits 78 are also further illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

When the cover 28 is released from the dome 30, as illustrated, the cover 28 can be raised or elevated anywhere along the hanging cable 26 up to and adjacent the locking crimp 82 of the hanging loop 80. This creates a separation distance 84 from the dome 30. As the cover 28 is being raised or elevated, the force being applied on the cover 28 to raise or elevate the cover 28 is sufficient to overcome the frictional engagement between the hanging cable 26 and the star shaped opening 74 within the cover 28. When the cover 28 reaches a desired position along the hanging cable 26, the frictional engagement between the hanging cable 26 and star shaped opening 74 is sufficient to overcome the gravitational pull on the cover 28 and thereby freely retain the cover 28 in that desired position on the hanging cable 26. In this manner, the separation distance 84 created between the cover 28 and the dome 30 enables the bird seed 34 to be poured into the open top 54 of the dome 30 for filling or re-filling the bird feeder 20. This process is preferably accomplished while the bird feeder 20 is being hung. Alternatively, this process may be accomplished after the bird feeder 20 has been retrieved from the location that it is being hung. When the process is reversed and the cover 28 is lowered along the hanging cable 26 and reattached to the dome 30, the cover 28 and dome 30 again unite to provide a waterproof seal for protecting the bird seeds 34 from the elements.

At the other end of the dome 30, the dome 30 is releaseably attached or fastened to the collar 32 using a fastening means 86, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. In the preferred embodiment, the dome 30 comprises a recessed hole 88 surrounded by a sloping wall 90 and sidewalls 92. The collar 32 preferably comprises an outer surface 94 having an outwardly extending ledge 96 and an adjacent brim 98. The ledge 96 comprises a tapered top surface 100 and a flat bottom surface 102 which is positioned parallel and opposed to the brim 98. Situated between the flat bottom surface 102 of the ledge 96 and the brim 98 is a hole 104.

To use the fastening means 86, the dome 30 is slid over the outer surface 94 of the collar 32 until the recessed hole 88 is positioned above the ledge 96. When this occurs, the dome 30 is pressed against the outer surface 94 of the collar 32 until the ledge 96 is penetrated through the recessed hole 88. The sidewalls 92 likewise become frictionally engaged with the sides of the ledge 96. At the same time, a portion 106 of the dome 30 is frictionally received and held between the flat bottom surface 102 of the ledge 96 and the brim 98 for completing the fastening means 86 and achieving a secure, waterproof seal and fit between the dome 30 and the collar 32. A cross-section of this attachment is further illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A. This fastening means 86 is also designed to prevent the undesired rotation or movement of the dome 30 in relation to the collar 32.

When the fastening means 86 is desired to be released, depressing upon the tapered top surface 100 of the ledge 96 will force the outer surface 94 to push away from the dome 30 and the ledge 96 to push away from the recessed hole 88 for releasing the ledge 96 from the recessed hole 88. As this occurs, the portion 106 of the dome 30 simultaneously becomes released from the frictional engagement between the flat bottom surface 102 of the ledge 96 and the brim 98. In the preferred embodiment, the depression can be caused by a person's finger, a screw-driver, or any other means known to one skilled in the art. Additionally, the sloping wall 90 is designed to slope inwardly toward the tapered top surface 100 of the ledge 96. In this manner, the sloping wall 90 permits easier access to the ledge 96 and directionally guides any depression means directly to the ledge 96. To accommodate the depression movement of the outer surface 94 and the ledge 96 to push away from the dome 30, the collar 32 is provided with a V-shaped internal wall 108 that provides a spacing cushion 110 to account for and enable this movement. Once completed, the dome 30 is released from the collar 32.

In the preferred embodiment, this fastening means 86 is used in four equally spaced locations around the perimeter of the dome 30 and collar 32 for achieving the most efficient and secure attachment of the dome 30 to the collar 32. Alternatively, it is contemplated that any number of fastening means 86 may be used by one skilled in the art.

Inside the collar 32 there is comprised an inner wall 112 that supports a plurality of divider walls 114 separating the collar 32 into a plurality of sections or compartments 116. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of divider walls 114 is four which creates an equal number of plurality of sections or compartments 116 of four. Alternatively, the plurality of divider walls 114 may be two, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for creating an equal number of plurality of sections or compartments 116 of two. In a further alternate embodiment, the collar 32 may be designed with no divider walls 114 creating a single section or compartment 116, as used in FIG. 10. In a yet another alternate embodiment, employing the principals disclosed herein, the collar 32 may be designed with any number of divider walls 114 for creating any number of sections or compartment 116, either equal to, more, or less than the number of divider walls 114 as desired by one skilled in the art. The plurality of divider walls 114 are fixedly secured, at one end, to the inner wall 112. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of divider walls 114 are integrally molded to the inner wall 112. Alternatively, any other means may be used by a person skilled in the art for fixedly securing the plurality of divider walls 114 to the inner wall 112. At the other end, the plurality of divider walls 114 converge and attach to a shared vertical tube 118. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical tube 118 is centrally located within the collar 32 and bird feeder 20 and comprises a hollow passageway 120 enabling the hanging cable 26 to pass unopposed and directly through the collar 32. In the preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of divider walls 114 comprises a top portion 122 situated in a vertical orientation and a bottom portion 124 angled inwardly into the plurality of sections or compartments 116. Each of the plurality of sections or compartments 116 forms an individual storage area for holding excess bird seed 34 until needed and then, when needed, funnels the bird seed 34 through a feeder port 126 into a separately attached, individual feeder bag 24 correspondingly aligned with each of the plurality of sections or compartments 116. The funneling of the bird seed 34 through the feeder port 126 and into each feeder bag 24 is further illustrated in FIG. 7.

The combination of the dome 30 and the collar 32 provide a width that is sufficiently large to assist in providing a covering means for the birds 36 when the birds 36 are standing or perched on the feeder bags 24. This covering means assists in protecting the birds 36 from the elements such as rain, snow, sun, or otherwise when the birds 36 are feeding.

Turning to FIGS. 4-6, an alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder 20 is illustrated. In this alternate embodiment of the thistle bird feeder, the raised cap 68, the cover 28, the dome 30, the collar 32, and the hanging cable 26 are the exact same as the original embodiment, discussed above. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cover 28, the dome 30, and the collar 32 are also releaseably attached or fastened to one another in the exact same manner. The difference with this alternate embodiment is that the inside of the collar 32 is designed with only a plurality of divider walls 114 of two for creating an equal number of plurality of sections or compartments 116 of only two. In this manner, the individual storage area formed in each of the plurality of sections or compartments 116 is larger for holding more bird seed 34 than in the original embodiment. Likewise, when needed, each of the plurality of sections or compartments 116 can funnel more bird seed 34 through the feeder port 126 and into the separately attached, individual feeder bags 24 correspondingly aligned with each of the plurality of sections or compartments 116. As such, by reducing the number of the plurality of sections or compartments 116 and available feeder bags 24, this alternate embodiment for the thistle bird feeder 20 requires less frequent refilling and provides more available bird seed 34 for continually refilling the feeder bags 24 available to the birds 36.

In the preferred embodiment, the feeder bag 24 is preferably made of a polyester or nylon mesh sock or any other suitable material that accomplishes the purposes described herein and is known to one skilled in the art. The feeder bag 24 may comprise any variation of size, shape, or contain any desired volume of bird seed 34. The feeder bag 24 is releaseably attached or fastened to the collar 32 using attachment means 128, as illustrated in FIGS. 10-12. In the preferred embodiment, a telescoping column 130 extends downwardly from the collar 32. Situated along an exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130 is a plurality of hooks 132. The plurality of hooks 132 comprise a support arm 136 integrally molded with a finger wall 138. In this manner, a pocket 140 is created between the exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130 and each of the plurality of hooks 132. In the preferred embodiment, the feeder bag 24 comprises an elastic band 142 secured into the proximal end 144 of the feeder bag 24 using a securing means 146 (FIG. 12). In the preferred embodiment, the securing means 146 comprises an end 150 of the feeder bag 24 being folded over, inserted into the opening 154 of the feeder bag 24, and then bound to the interior side 148 of the feeder bag 24. It is contemplated that the end 150 of the feeder bag 24 may be bound to the interior side 148 of the feeder bag 24 by stitching or any other means known to one skilled in the art. In this manner, a sleeve 152 is formed within the feeder bag 24 at the proximal end 144 to retain the elastic band 142.

To use the securing means 146, the elastic band 142 is stretched from a normal flex to an expanded flex for enlarging the opening 154 in the feeder bag 24 and the elastic band 142 to fit around the exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130 and the plurality of hooks 132 surrounding the telescoping column 130. When this occurs, the enlarged feeder bag 24 and expanded flex of the elastic band 142 are slid upwardly and over the plurality of hooks 132. The stretching or expanded flex of the elastic band 142 is then released allowing the elastic band 142 to return to the normal flex around the exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130. In the preferred embodiment, the normal flex of the elastic band 142 retains some elasticity and compression force on the exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130. Alternatively, the elastic band 142 may not provide much, if any, compression force on the exterior wall 134 of the telescoping column 130. Once the elastic band 142 and the feeder bag 24 are fitted over the telescoping column 130, the elastic band 142 is pulled downwardly into each of the pockets 140 in each of the plurality of hooks 132 surrounding the telescoping column 130. In this manner, the pockets 140 coact to secure the proximal end 144 of the feeder bag 24 to the telescoping column 130. The feeder bag 24 remains secured to the telescoping column 130 until a replacement feeder bag 24 is needed.

Turning back to FIG. 7, after the hanging cable 26 passes through the hollow passageway 120 in the vertical tube 118, the hanging cable 26 passes through a base 158 in the vertical tube 118 and then terminates in a knot 156. In the preferred embodiment, between the base 158 and the knot 156 is a stopper 160 connected to the hanging cable 26.

The stopper 160 may be any component and connected or attached to the hanging cable 26 by any means known to one skilled in the art provided that the stopper 160 is sufficiently connected or attached to the hanging cable 26 to support the gravitational pull and weight of the bird feeder 20 when hung.

Upon hanging the bird feeder 20 from a tree branch or, alternatively, from any desired location, the gravitational pull and weight of the bird feeder 20 will force or pull the bird feeder 20 in a downward direction on the hanging cable 26. As this occurs and the hanging cable 26 remains in the hanging position, the stopper 160 will be forced to engage with and become gravitationally mated with the base 158 of the vertical tube 118. In this manner, the bird feeder 20 and all of the assembled components are freely hung and suspended as desired.

To fill the bird feeder 20 with bird seed 34 and assuming that all of the components of the bird feeder 20 are assembled as described herein, the bird feeder 20 may be in the hanging position as hung by the hanging cable 26 from the hanging loop 80 or, alternatively, on a table or other supporting means known to one skilled in the art. If in the hanging position, the cover 28 is then separated from the dome 30 as previously described in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, if not in the hanging position, the cover 28 and/or the dome 30 may be removed for filling the bird feeder 20. Bird seed 34 can then be poured into the open top 54 of the dome 30. As the bird seed 34 is poured into the dome 30, the bird seed 34 continues through the dome 30 and is separated by the collar 32 through the use of the divider walls 114 redirecting the bird seed 34 into any one or more of the plurality of sections or compartments 116. The bird seed 34 is gravity fed as it then passes through the feeder ports 126 in the plurality of sections or compartments 116. The inwardly angled bottom portion 124 of the divider walls 114 also further directs the bird seed 34 through the plurality of sections or compartments 116 toward the feeder ports 126. Once in the feeder ports 126, the bird seed 34 is funneled through the telescoping column 130 (FIGS. 7 and 11) and falls into the feeder bags 24 where the bird seed 34 is made available to the birds 36 for feeding. As more bird seed 34 is poured into the bird feeder 20, the extra bird seed 34 will continue to collect within the plurality of sections or compartments 116 and upwards within the dome 30 until the bird feeder 20 becomes completely full, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the bird seed 34 can be filled up to the rim 56 of the dome 30 prior to the attachment of the cover 28 to the dome 30. In the preferred embodiment, the dome 30 is made of a transparent material or, alternatively, of any non-transparent material desired by one skilled in the art.

Should any of the feeder bags 24 become unusable, the use of plurality of sections or compartments 116 supplying the other feeder bags 24 prevents the bird feeder 20 from losing all of the loaded bird seed 34 to the ground from or through the one individual, unusable or leaking feeder bag 24. A feeder bag 24 could become unusable through an excessive larger hole being created in it, being torn down by a squirrel or other rodent, etc. . . . Once in place, the bird feeder 20 can hold a large amount of bird seed 34 for automatically feeding seed into each of the individual feeder bags 24 below. In this way, the caretaker can fill the bird feeder 20 and the feeder bags 24 much less frequently. When an individual feeder bag 24 becomes emptied by the birds, the individual feeder bag 24 is automatically and continually refilled until the bird feeder 20 and corresponding section or compartment 16 serving the feeder bag 24 becomes empty.

Thus, there has been provided Applicant's unique thistle bird feeder. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A bird feeder, comprising: a hollow container having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one feeder bag; and means for releaseably mounting the at least one feeder bag to the distal end of the container.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for releaseably mounting the at least one feeder bag to the distal end of the container comprises the at least one feeder bag having an opening, an elastic band, and means for securing the elastic band to the at least one feeder bag adjacent to the opening, a telescoping column having a top end and a bottom end, and a plurality of hooks, the top end of the telescoping column fixedly attached to the distal end of the container and extending outwardly therefrom, the bottom end fixedly attached to the plurality of hooks, whereby, the elastic band and opening are stretched around the telescoping column and plurality of hooks and then released for attachment to the plurality of hooks.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein a pocket is formed between the telescoping column and the plurality of hooks to receive and secure the elastic band between the telescoping column and the plurality of hooks.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein the means for securing the elastic band to the at least one feeder bag adjacent to the opening is a sleeve contained within the at least one feeder bag.
 5. A bird feeder, comprising: a hollow container having a proximal end and a distal end; a rim located adjacent the proximal end and defining an open top; a plurality of ports located adjacent the distal end and defining an open bottom; a plurality of feeder bags; means for releaseably mounting the plurality of feeder bags to the plurality of ports; and means for hanging the container.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the means for hanging the container is a cable having a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end, the container situated between the ends of the cable and having a passageway, the cable passing through the passageway for enabling the container to be slideably moveable along the cable between the ends.
 7. The device of claim 6 and further comprising a cover.
 8. The device of claim 7 and further comprising means for releaseably attaching the cover to the rim for covering the open top.
 9. The device of claim 7 and further comprising means for frictionally attaching the cover to the cable.
 10. The device of claim 5 and further comprising a plurality of divider walls defining a plurality of separate sections inside the container, each separate section corresponding to one of the plurality of ports.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of separate sections funnels bird seed from that section directly into the corresponding one of the plurality of ports.
 12. The device of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of feeder bags corresponds to one of the plurality of ports.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of feeder bags is filled with bird seed funneled directly from the corresponding one of the plurality of ports.
 14. A bird feeder, comprising: a cover; a dome having a top rim defining an open top and a bottom rim defining an open bottom; means for releaseably locking the cover to the top rim of the dome for covering the open top; a collar having a rim defining a second open top and a plurality of ports defining a plurality of open bottoms, the collar further having a plurality of sections, each corresponding to one of the plurality of ports; means for releaseably fastening the bottom rim of the dome to the rim of the collar; a plurality of feeder bags; means for releaseably mounting the plurality of feeder bags to the plurality of ports; and means for hanging the bird feeder; whereby, the bird feeder is slideably moveable along the means for hanging the bird feeder and either the cover or the dome may be detached to expose the plurality of sections for inserting bird seed into any one of the plurality of sections, funneling the bird seed through the corresponding one of the plurality of ports, and thereby filling any corresponding one of the plurality of feeder bags while the bird feeder is being hung.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the means for hanging the bird feeder is a cable having a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end, the bird feeder being retained between the ends of the cable and having a passageway, the cable passing through the passageway for enabling the bird feeder to be slideably moveable along the cable between the ends.
 16. The device of claim 15 and further comprising means for frictionally attaching the cover to the cable.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein the means for frictionally attaching the cover to the cable is a star shaped opening in the cover.
 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the star shaped opening comprises an open center surrounded by a plurality of adjacent teeth, the cable being received through the open center and engaging the plurality of adjacent teeth.
 19. The device of claim 14 wherein the means for releaseably mounting the plurality of feeder bags to the plurality of ports comprises the plurality of feeder bags each having an opening, an elastic band, and means for securing the elastic band to the feeder bag adjacent to the opening, a plurality of telescoping columns each having a top end and a bottom end, and a plurality of hooks, the top end of each of the plurality of telescoping columns fixedly attached to the corresponding one of the plurality of ports and extending outwardly therefrom, the bottom end fixedly attached to an associated plurality of hooks, whereby, the elastic band and opening of each one of the plurality of feeder bags is stretched around one of the plurality of telescoping columns and the associated plurality of hooks and then released for attachment to the associated plurality of hooks.
 20. A method for using a bird feeder, comprising the steps of: hanging the bird feeder in the air from a cable, the cable having a hanging loop at one end and a stopper at the other end, the bird feeder having a open passageway for the cable to slideably pass through and be retained between the ends of the cable; removing a cover from the bird feeder to expose an opening; sliding the cover along the cable away from the bird feeder to a desired location; frictionally attaching the cover to the cable at the desired location; depositing bird seed into the opening; separating the bird seed into a plurality of sections; funneling the bird seed from each of the plurality of sections into a separate, corresponding feeder bag; sliding the cover from the desired location back to the bird feeder; and re-attaching the cover to the bird feeder.
 21. The method of claim 20 and further comprising the step of removing a dome from the bird feeder to expose a second opening.
 22. The method of claim 21 and further comprising the step of inserting bird seed into the second opening.
 23. The method of claim 22 and further comprising the step of separating the bird seed into the plurality of sections.
 24. The method of claim 23 funneling the bird seed from each of the plurality of sections into the separate, corresponding feeder bag.
 25. The method of claim 24 and further comprising the step of re-attaching the dome to the bird feeder. 